THE KITE RUNNER

A Literary Journey
Background
The book takes place between the 1970s and 2001.
Kite Runner is centered in Afghanistan over the last
forty years, as well as the Afghan community in
America.
The effects of the Russian invasion, the Mujahidin and
the Taliban on the Afghan people are all dealt with in
the book.
In Afghanistan, the Pashtun nationality has been the
most dominant. This is the same nationality of Amir
and Baba.
The Hazara are a minority group in Afghanistan, and
this is the nationality of Hassan and Ali. They have
always been persecuted in Afghanistan.
 About the Author:
Khaled Hosseini
Born: Kabul, Afghanistan-1965
Father- diplomat for the
Afghan Foreign Ministry
Mother- high school Farsi and
History teacher
1976- AFM transferred the
Hosseini family to Paris
In September 1980 the family
moved to San Jose, CA
Khaled graduated from high
school in 1984 and from Santa
Clara University in 1988 with a
major in Biology.
University of California San Diego
Medical School and residency at
Cedars- Sinai Hospital
Began writing The Kite Runner in
March of 2001 and it was
published in 2003
Book is an international bestseller
and is sold in 48 countries
A Thousand Splendid Suns is
Hosseinis second novel and it was
published in 40 different countries
The Khaled Hosseini Foundation
provides assistance and help for
those in most need in Afghanistan
Important Characters
Amir- The narrator The Kite Runner. Amir is a very jealous and sensitive
young boy who craves the attention of his father. He is part of a wealthy
household in Afghanistan before the Soviet-Invasion. He later re-
establishes his life in America with his father, Baba.
Hassan- Amirs servant, and half-brother as discovered late in the novel.
Hassan is a very loyal friend to Amir. After going through personal tragedy,
Hassan becomes very introverted and Amir and Hassans relationship falls
apart. Hassan never learns the truth about his relation to Baba and Amir. He
is executed by the Taliban along with his wife in front of their son Sohrab.
Baba- Amir and Hassans father. A very wealthy, and well liked man in
Afghanistan, Baba is well-known for throwing huge parties and opening in
orphanage. After moving to America Baba works at a gas station, and later
dies from lung cancer.
Important Characters
Ali- Babas servant and friend, and Hassans supposed father in the
beginning of the novel. Ali suffered from polio and therefore only had use
of one of his legs. He was killed by a land mine.
Soraya- Amirs wife. Met Amir at the flee markets. She is always yearning
to have a child but cannot concieve.
Sohrab- Hassans son who Amir adopts at the end of the novel, saving him
from the corrupt orphanages in Afghanistan.
Assef- A childhood tormenter of Amir and Hassan. Rapes Hassan as a child,
and later becomes part of the Taliban and takes advantage of Hassans son
Sohrab. In the end, he battles Amir for the custody of Sohrab. He loses the
fight when Sohrab uses his fathers old slingshot to shoot Assefs eye out,
the same sling shot Hassan threatened him with to protect Amir years
before.
In Short Kite Runner is all About

A beautiful and informative story of Amir,

an Afghan boy who betrays his closest
friend, Hassan, when they are just 12 years
old. He lives with this guilt for many years,
paying deeply in pain and suffering, always
wanting to redeem himself for his betrayal.
Summary Cont..
Inaddition to the issues affecting his personal life, Amir must
also contend with the instability of the Afghan political system
in the 1970s. During a crucial episode, which takes place
during an important kite flying tournament, Amir decides not
to act he decides not to confront bullies and aggressors
when he has the chance and this conscious choice of
inaction sets off a chain reaction that leads to guilt, lies, and
betrayals. Eventually, because of the changing political
climate, Amir and his father are forced to flee Afghanistan.
Amir views coming to America as an opportunity to leave his
past behind.
Ultimately, The Kite Runner is a novel
about relationships specifically the
relationships between Amir and Hassan,
Baba, Rahim Khan, Soraya, and Sohrab
and how the complex relationships in our
lives overlap and connect to make us the
people we are.
 Thank You..